ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to address the ongoing water shortage and electricity issues in Gwadar. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti joined the meeting via video link and gave a detailed briefing on the region’s water challenges, underlying causes, and the steps being taken to resolve them.
The Chief Minister highlighted that instability in electricity supply, particularly due to the suspension of power imports from Iran, has severely disrupted the uninterrupted operation of desalination plants. He noted that poor planning in the Khuzdar–Gwadar national grid connection has resulted in inconsistent voltage, further affecting water supply systems.
Bugti informed the meeting that a comprehensive plan is being prepared for a sustainable solution to Gwadar’s water crisis. He stressed the need for a thorough review and corrective measures in the Khuzdar–Gwadar grid line and said that emergency steps are underway to operate desalination plants through dedicated powerhouses and generators.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed federal authorities to devise a long-term strategy for resolving Gwadar’s water and power problems. He ordered the Federal Minister for Power Division, the Planning Commission, and relevant secretaries to visit Gwadar on August 15. The PM emphasized that, in consultation with the Chief Minister of Balochistan, uninterrupted water supply to Gwadar’s residents must be ensured without delay.
